Recycled paint is taking off in Lake County

Don't toss that old paint in your garage. It's not done yet.

Laskowski ACE Hardware stores in Lake County have partnered with Chicago-area nonprofit EarthPaint to collect residents' old, unwanted paint for recycling.

Recycled paint? Yes, recycled paint. For the past 10 years, EarthPaint has been recycling paint, creating a high-quality, sustainable paint product that gets the job done for any project. And while it does good for the planet, it also does good for the community, employing disabled adults who often experience their first meaningful work opportunity at EarthPaint.

What's more, EarthPaint is offering free recycled paint to any area school or nonprofit that needs it.

"We know it can be a struggle, especially in these times, to prioritize where organizations put their money," says EarthPaint founder Chris McCarthy. "And we're trying to make it easy for people to do the right thing, and get their old paint recycled."

Laskowski's joins dozens of independent hardware stores across northern Illinois that serve as EarthPaint collection points. Residents can bring in their old latex paint, which is accepted for a fee that supports EarthPaint's mission. Laskowski's has locations in Round Lake, Libertyville, Mundelein, Gurnee, Waukegan, Grayslake, Wauconda, Antioch and McHenry.

EarthPaint has also just added to its collection pool Craftwood Lumber, 1590 Old Deerfield Road, in Highland Park.

"Most people don't know you can recycle paint. They think it can be tossed in the trash - which it absolutely cannot be," McCarthy says. "We're on a mission to educate folks, but also empower them to make the right choices."